The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Department of Education
350 Main Street, Malden, Massachusetts 02148-5023
Telephone: (781) 338-3700
TTY: N.E.T. Relay 1-800-439-2370
February 12, 2008
Sean Gilrein, Superintendent
Dudley-Charlton Regional School District
68 Dudley Oxford Road
Dudley, MA 01571
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent Gilrein:
Enclosed is the Department of Education's Mid-cycle Review Report. This report contains
findings based on onsite monitoring the Department conducted to determine the effectiveness of
corrective action it approved or ordered to address noncompliance identified in your district’s last
Coordinated Program Review Report, dated August 12, 2005. The Mid-cycle Report also
contains findings based on onsite monitoring of special education compliance criteria that have
been created or substantially changed in response to IDEA 2004.
The onsite team would like to commend the following programs and practices that were brought
to its attention and that the team believes have a significant positive impact on the education of
students enrolled in the Dudley-Charlton Regional School District. These programs and practices
are as follows:
 The expansion of the continuum of services for students with behavior issues
 The notification to parents of students who drop out of school of their right to request
an evaluation if they suspect that their child may have a disability
 The focusing on the transition needs of high school students with the coordination of
the special education transition plan with the district’s school to work initiative,
particularly for those students placed in job shadowing and internship activities
While the Department of Education found your district to have resolved certain noncompliance
issues, others were partially corrected or not addressed at all, or the Department’s onsite team
identified new issues of noncompliance, including but not limited to noncompliance with special
education criteria added or substantially changed in response to IDEA 2004. Where the district
has failed to implement its Corrective Action Plan, the Department views these findings to be
serious.
In all instances where noncompliance has been found, the Department has prescribed corrective
action for the district that must be implemented without delay. You will find these requirements
for corrective action included in the enclosed report, along with requirements for progress
reporting. Please provide the Department with your written assurance that all of the Department's
requirements for corrective action will be implemented by your district within the timelines
specified. You must submit your statement of assurance to me by February 29, 2008.
1
The cooperation of your staff throughout this Mid-cycle Review is appreciated. Should you like
clarification of any part of our report, please do not hesitate to contact Jean Jonker at 781-3383947.
Sincerely,
Jean E. Jonker, Mid-cycle Review Chairperson
Program Quality Assurance Services
Darlene A. Lynch, Director
Program Quality Assurance Services
c:
Jeffrey Nellhaus, Acting Commissioner of Education
Geraldine A. Nowicki, School Committee Chairperson
Nancy Tully, District Program Review Follow-up Coordinator
Elizabeth Gonyea, Southern Worcester County Education Collaborative Director
Encl.: Mid-cycle Report
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Dudley – Charlton Regional School District
Date of Coordinated Program Review (CPR) Final Report: August 12, 2005
Date Coordinated Program Review Corrective Action Approved or Ordered: November 1, 2005
Dates of Corrective Action Plan Progress Reports: February 1, 2006 and June 9, 2006, November 3, 2006
Dates of this Mid-cycle Review Onsite Visit: January 31, 2008 – February 1, 2008
Date of this Report: February 12, 2008
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS REPORT IS IN SEVERAL SECTIONS.
Special Education Criteria Cited in CPR Report and Monitored in Mid-cycle
Current CPR criteria available by scrolling down to the monitoring instruments at http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/default.html
Criterion
Number/Topic
Approved
Corrective
Action
Implement
ed and
Effective
Method(s) of
Verification

SE 7
Transfer of
Rights at Age of
Majority
Basis of Determination that
Corrective Action was
Implemented and has been
Effective
Corrective
Action Not
Implemented
Not Effective
or
New Issues
Identified

Basis of Determination
that Implementation of
Corrective Action was
Incomplete or
Ineffective or
Basis of Finding of New
Noncompliance
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation,
and Progress Reporting
Partial
Not all appropriate
records contain evidence
of student’s election for
shared decision making.
Not all students who
choose shared decisionmaking are provided with
IEP process notifications.
Conduct training to appropriate
staff on the transfer of parental
rights at the age of majority
and student participation and
consent at the age of majority.
Submit an agenda and
attendance sheet to the
Department by March 31,
2008.
Staff interviews
and review of
student records
Dudley-Charlton Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
February 12, 2008
Page 1 of 8
Criterion
Number/Topic
Approved
Corrective
Action
Implement
ed and
Effective

Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Corrective Action was
Implemented and has been
Effective
Corrective
Action Not
Implemented
Not Effective
or
New Issues
Identified

Basis of Determination
that Implementation of
Corrective Action was
Incomplete or
Ineffective or
Basis of Finding of New
Noncompliance
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation,
and Progress Reporting
Conduct, and submit by June
6, the results of an
administration review of
secondary student records,
including students placed
out-of-district, regarding
appropriate documentation
of the transfer of parental
rights at the age of majority
and student IEP
participation and consent at
the age of majority. Indicate
the # of records reviewed
from in- and out-of district
students and indicate the
actions taken by the district
to address any issues.
Dudley-Charlton Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
February 12, 2008
Page 2 of 8
Criterion
Number/Topic
Approved
Corrective
Action
Implement
ed and
Effective
Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Corrective Action was
Implemented and has been
Effective

SE 18A
IEP
Development
and Content

Review of
student records
and
documentation
The district develops an IEP at
the Team meeting using the
most current IEP format
provided by the Department.
The IEPs that were reviewed
were well written and addressed
all elements of the IEP.
SE 29
Communications
are in English
and Primary
Language
of Home

Review of
student records
and
documentation
Communications are in simple
and commonly understood
language and are translated,
when needed, in the primary
language of the home.
SE 34
Continuum of
Alternative
Services and
Placements

Staff interviews
and review of
student records
and
documentation
The district provides a
continuum of alternative
services and placements to
ensure compliance with all
elements of the IEPs, including
vocational education. The
district has expanded its
services for students with
behavior needs.
Corrective
Action Not
Implemented
Not Effective
or
New Issues
Identified

Basis of Determination
that Implementation of
Corrective Action was
Incomplete or
Ineffective or
Basis of Finding of New
Noncompliance
Dudley-Charlton Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
February 12, 2008
Page 3 of 8
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation,
and Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number/Topic
Approved
Corrective
Action
Implement
ed and
Effective
Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Corrective Action was
Implemented and has been
Effective

SE 41
Age Span
Requirements

Staff interviews
and review of
documentation
The district adheres to the age
span requirements. The district
requested and received an age
span waiver for the 2007-2008
school year.
SE 45
Procedures for
Suspensions
Up to Ten Days
and After
Ten Days

Staff interviews
and review of
documentation
The district has current IDEA
2004 procedures for the
discipline of students with
special needs in all student
handbooks.
SE 54
Professional
Development

Staff interviews
and review of
documentation
The district is providing
required training for staff.
Corrective
Action Not
Implemented
Not Effective
or
New Issues
Identified

Basis of Determination
that Implementation of
Corrective Action was
Incomplete or
Ineffective or
Basis of Finding of New
Noncompliance
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation,
and Progress Reporting
Special Education Criteria Created or Revised in Response to IDEA-2004
Current CPR criteria available by scrolling down to the monitoring instruments at http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/default.html
Dudley-Charlton Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
February 12, 2008
Page 4 of 8
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Criterion
Implement
ed

Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Criterion was Implemented
SE 3
Special
requirements
for
determination
of specific
learning
disability

Review of
student records
and
documentation
The IEP Team creates a written
determination as to whether or
not the student has a specific
learning disability, which is
signed by all Team members.
SE 6 ##1 - 3
Determination
of Transition
Services

Staff interviews
and review of
student records
The district appropriately and
annually plans for transition
activities for students with
disabilities. High school
students benefit from the
coordination of the special
education transition plan with
the school to work initiative,
particularly for those students
placed on job shadowing and
internship activities that align
with their transition plans.
SE 8
IEP Team
composition
and attendance

Staff interviews
and review of
student records
The district has all of the
required members at Team
meetings and uses a Team
member excusal form when
appropriate.
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented

Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented
Dudley-Charlton Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
February 12, 2008
Page 5 of 8
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Criterion
Implement
ed

Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Criterion was Implemented
SE 12
Frequency of
re-evaluation

Staff interviews
and review of
student records
The district conducts reevaluations consistent with the
requirements.
SE 13
Progress
Reports and
content

Staff interviews
and review of
student records
and
documentation
Progress reports are
comprehensively detailed with
information regarding the
students’ progress towards
attaining IEP goals and
objectives. The district has
focused professional
development activities on
progress report writing with a
district goal of using data-driven
RTI practices.
SE 14
Review and
revision of
IEPs
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented

Staff interviews
and review of
student records
and
documentation
Partial
Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented
Team chairpersons use a
district form, “ Meeting
Extension Waiver”, to
seek parental approval for
not meeting timelines,
particularly when annual
and re-evaluation meeting
dates are somewhat close
to one another.
Dudley-Charlton Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
February 12, 2008
Page 6 of 8
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
Conduct training to appropriate
staff on the review and revision
of IEPs including adherence to
mandated timelines.
Submit an agenda and
attendance, by March 31,
2008.
Also submit, by June 6, 2008,
the results of an
administration review of
student records, including
students placed out-ofdistrict, regarding timelines.
Indicate the # of records
reviewed from in- and out-of
district students and indicate
the actions taken by the
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Criterion
Implement
ed

Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Criterion was Implemented
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented

Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting
district to address any issues.
SE 25B
Resolution of
disputes

Review of
student records
and
documentation
The district follows an
appropriate protocol regarding
resolution of disputes that is
consistent with the regulations.
SE 33
Involvement in
the General
Curriculum

Review of
student records
and
documentation
Students participate in the
general curriculum.
SE 39A
Procedures for
services to
eligible private
school students
whose parents
reside in the
district

Review of
student records
and
documentation
The district implements
appropriate procedures for
services to eligible private
school students whose parents
reside in the district.
Dudley-Charlton Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
February 12, 2008
Page 7 of 8
Criterion
Number
and
Topic
Criterion
Implement
ed

Method(s) of
Verification
Basis of Determination that
Criterion was Implemented
SE 39B
Procedures for
services to
eligible
students in
private schools
in the district
whose parents
reside out of
state

Review of
student records
and
documentation
Review of documentation
showed that the district
implements appropriate
procedures for services to
eligible private school students
whose parents reside out of the
district. At the time of this
review, there were no eligible
students in private schools in the
district whose parents reside out
of state.
SE 46
Procedures for
suspension of
students with
disabilities
more than 10
days

Review of
student records
and
documentation
The district has procedures in
place that meet the requirements
set forth in this criterion. The
procedures are being followed
in practice.
SE 52
Certifications/
Licenses/
Credentials –
related service
providers
of interpreting
services

Documentation
At the time of the review, the
district did not employ any
related service providers for
interpreting services.
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
or Not
Implemented

Basis of Determination
that Criterion was
Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented
Dudley-Charlton Regional School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
February 12, 2008
Page 8 of 8
Required Corrective Action,
Timelines for
Implementation, and
Progress Reporting